[Steven]

Hey Gianni

Now, first up, Mode 1 will make it easier to buy equipment in Australia. Think of it as going to Hunter Holden and ordering a Commodore in left hand drive. Possible, but don't always expect it to be an easy option. Also, I heard someone doing a head count at the feild last week end and there were something like 9 mode one fliers to one mode 2. Having an experienced pilot handy who can take your new model up to check the trims and such is a good thing, and also can grab your transmitter off you if you get into trouble.

But yes, having your motor and rudder on one stick and your active control surfaces on the other (just like a real joy stick) does sound logical, but you adapt.

Now, trainer planes. Both are good quality fliers. Both are also supplied in mode one, if that makes your choice any easier :p

The Firebird has a few benifits, one being that it has "tricycle" landing gear, meaning it has a nose wheel, rather than one under the tail. This style can be more stable, and make your first take offs and landings a little more ... calm.
Also, it's wing is located with super strong magnets. If you take a bit of a dirt nap, the wing can pop free, saving damaged mounting points.
It also has this "virtual instructor" thingy that automatically mixes in a little up elevator when you turn to keep it level. This I am not so hot on this feature, because you will have to learn that input sometime, and if you don't from the start it won't be natural. You can disable it though.

Also, I have found the less realistic a trainer plane is, the better it flies. Just my personal experience though.

The Super Cub LP is a nice big stable high wing classic 3 channel trainer. It comes with a full size Spektrum transmitter that can be bound to another basic Eflight/Parkzone model later. Or, more to the point, if you get yourself a Spektrum DX6i or DX8 in the future, you can bind the Cub LP to that, so you have all your models on the one radio.

There will be folks who quite rightfully will suggest The Apprentice or other similar trainers, but out of the two you have your eye on, they both provide an economic starting point that will let you know if this is for you before you blow a whole load of money.